Bucs Final 53-Man Roster Prediction

The Bucs’ preseason concludes on Saturday night in a home game against the Baltimore Ravens. Tampa Bay will then trim its roster from 90 players down to 53 by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29. A month after his initial roster prediction, Scott Reynolds offers up his final 53-man roster prediction prior to Saturday’s preseason finale in which the team’s starters will play, according to head coach Todd Bowles.

Bucs 53-Man Roster Prediction

QUARTERBACKS – 2

QB Baker Mayfield
QB Kyle Trask
 
Analysis: Baker Mayfield has won the quarterback competition and will be the team’s starter heading into the 2023 season. Mayfield’s 69 career starts played a huge role in the Bucs’ decision, as there is no substitute for experience. Backup Kyle Trask really improved this offseason and is coming off a strong showing in the Bucs’ 13-6 win over the Jets on Saturday night.

The Bucs will likely keep just two quarterbacks on the active roster with veteran third-stringer John Wolford being cut and then added to the practice squad in the same way that Ryan Griffin was the team’s veteran No. 3 QB last season.

RUNNING BACKS – 3

RB Rachaad White
RB Chase Edmonds
RB Sean Tucker
 
Analysis: The Bucs could very well keep four running backs on their roster, including fourth-year back Ke’Shawn Vaughn. But there is a chance he could be a surprise cut due to his lack of speed and explosiveness. Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds and rookie Sean Tucker are simply faster, more explosive backs.

Vaughn underwhelmed in the first two preseason games, rushing for a woeful minus-4 yards on 11 carries and catching one pass for 10 yards. If he winds up making the 53-man roster it will be due to his special teams play. There is a chance that Vaughn, Patrick Laird or rookie Ronnie Brown winds up on the practice squad.

WIDE RECEIVERS – 6

WR Mike Evans
WR Chris Godwin
WR Trey Palmer
WR David Moore
WR Deven Thompkins
WR Rakim Jarrett

Analysis: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be the obvious starters. Dave Canales will not name a traditional No. 3 wide receiver with Russell Gage’s season-ending injury. Instead, WR3 will be done by a committee approach between the likes of sensational sixth-round pick Trey Palmer, veteran David Moore, impressive undrafted free agent Rakim Jarrett and the electric Deven Thompkins, who will also serve as the return specialist.

Ryan Miller might be the favorite to wind up on the practice squad where the Bucs will likely keep two receivers, although Kade Warner, Kaylon Geiger Sr. and Taye Barber also have a chance.

TIGHT ENDS – 4

TE Cade Otton
TE David Wells
TE Ko Kieft
TE Payne Durham
 
Analysis: Cade Otton will start and David Wells has been a pleasant surprise, emerging as TE2 on the depth chart because of his ability to catch and block at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds. Ko Kieft will be a mainstay on special teams and be primarily used as a blocking tight end on offense. Rookie Payne Durham, a fifth-round draft pick, has a nose for the end zone and will make the 53-man roster as a developmental tight end.

Tanner Taula likely beats out Dominique Dafney for a spot on the practice squad.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – 10

LT Tristan Wirfs
LG Matt Feiler
C Robert Hainsey
RG Cody Mauch
RT Luke Goedeke
C-G Nick Leverett
OT Justin Skule
G-T Brandon Walton
OT Raiquon O’Neal
***C Ryan Jensen
 
Analysis: It’s looking more and more like center Ryan Jensen will be starting the season on injured reserve. If the team hopes to bring him back after at least four weeks he’ll need to be on the final 53-man roster before being placed on I.R. So he’s on this roster for that reason, but it certainly appears as if Robert Hainsey will be Tampa Bay’s starting center again this season. He’ll join left tackle Tristan Wirfs, left guard Matt Feiler, rookie right guard Cody Mauch and right tackle Luke Goedeke in the starting lineup.

Nick Leverett makes the roster as a valuable reserve capable of playing guard or center, while Brandon Walton can play either tackle spot and guard. Justin Skule likely replaces Josh Wells as the Bucs’ swing tackle, while rookie Raiquon O’Neal has tremendous upside as a future swing tackle candidate.

John Molchon will likely be cut and could be added back to replace Jensen the day after the 53-man roster is established. Otherwise he’s likely on the practice squad. Rookies Chris Murray, Luke Haggard and Silas Dsanzi are also practice squad candidates.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN – 6

DT Calijah Kancey
NT Vita Vea
DT Logan Hall
NT Greg Gaines
DT Will Gholston
DT Pat O’Connor

Analysis: No surprises here as former top picks Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea and Logan Hall will all be starters along the defensive line this year in Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme. Kancey will be the three-technique, while Vea will go back to playing mostly nose tackle. Kancey and Vea will be the two interior defensive linemen in nickel defense.

The reserves will be a pair of run-stuffers in Greg Gaines, who replaces Rakeem Nunez-Roches as the backup nose tackle, and veteran Will Gholston, who returns this year as a reserve. Pat O’Connor has added size and is up to 300 pounds and can be a sub in nickel rush situations, as well as a stalwart on special teams. Mike Greene and Deadrin Senat could wind up on the Bucs practice squad.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

OLB Shaq Barrett
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
OLB Anthony Nelson
OLB YaYa Diaby
OLB Markees Watts

Analysis: The Bucs wind up keeping five outside linebackers to help their edge rush as well as their special teams units. Shaq Barrett keeps coming on and could return to form this season after a successful recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is under the gun to have a big year to live up to his former first-round draft status. Anthony Nelson and rookie YaYa Diaby will also push for playing time and bring some added power to the outside linebacker room.

The final spot on the depth chart is up for grabs between undrafted free agent Markees Watts, sixth-round draft pick Jose Ramirez, veteran Cam Gill and Charles Snowden, a 6-foot-7 practice-squadder from a year ago. Watts is in the driver’s seat heading into the preseason finale, but must play well on special teams to beat out Gill. The others are practice squad candidates.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS – 5

ILB Lavonte David
ILB Devin White
ILB SirVocea Dennis
ILB K.J. Britt
ILB J.J. Russell

Analysis: Lavonte David and Devin White make up one of the NFL’s more athletic and dynamic duos. David isn’t slowing down at age 33, while White appears to be focused on playing for a new deal and must be more consistent. Fifth-round pick SirVocea Dennis got off to a good start in training camp before suffering an injury in the preseason opener where he had just an average debut. He’ll make the team as a reserve.

Dennis joins the likes of veteran K.J. Britt, who is a core special teamer and J.J. Russell, who has been a playmaker in the first two preseason games and will factor in on special teams too. If the Bucs only keep four inside linebackers then either Russell or Britt could wind up on the practice squad, joining Ulysees Gilbert there as well.

CORNERBACKS – 5

CB Carlton Davis III
CB Jamel Dean
NCB Dee Delaney
CB Zyon McCollum
CB Keenan Isaac

Analysis: The Bucs are quite young after the terrific tandem of starters Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean. Both veterans are highly-paid and must come up with more interceptions and do a better job of staying healthy this season. Zyon McCollum has improved a bit this preseason and will be the first outside cornerback off the bench to fill in for Dean or Davis. Veteran Dee Delaney will likely emerge as the starting nickelback and brings tremendous versatility to the secondary.

The fifth and final cornerback spot will likely go to Keenan Isaac, a 6-foot-2 undrafted free agent who has a good deal of raw talent and upside or veteran Anthony Chesley – depending on special teams. Josh Hayes, a sixth-round draft pick, will likely wind up on the practice squad with either Chesley or Isaac.

SAFETIES – 4

FS Antoine Winfield Jr.
SS Ryan Neal
NCB Chris Izien
SS Kaevon Merriweather

Analysis: Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal have the chance at being one of the league’s best duos at safety. Both are in contract years and highly motivated entering the 2023 campaign. Winfield will play more center field in Cover 1 and Cover 3 with the hope of creating more interceptions. Neal is on a one-year, prove-it deal and aims to show that last season in Seattle was no fluke, and that he’s a young safety on the rise.

Merriweather is a physical force that could develop into a future starter in time. The team is high on his potential. Izien gets the nod over Nolan Turner due to his speed, athleticism and ability to play nickel as well as both safety spots. Turner likely lands on the practice squad again unless he turns out to be a better special teams player than Merriweather.

SPECIALISTS – 3

K Chase McLaughlin
P Jake Camarda
LS Zach Triner

Analysis: The Bucs’ specialists have already been decided with the release of kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after his two misses against the Jets on Saturday night. Chase McLaughlin will be the place kicker, while Jake Camarda will handle punts, kickoffs and serve as the holder. Zach Triner returns as the long snapper.